Vocabulary encompasses the words that an individual knows and can use conveniently in a language. Words are the powerhouse of any language, and a person with a narrow vocabulary will likely sound boring and verbose.
A robust vocabulary, on the contrary, facilitates the capacity to speak with clarity, precision and audacity. Besides, an essential feature of language use is to KISS—Keep It Short and Simple. Brevity is, however, possible only when one has the appropriate word to vividly paint a situation. Consequentially, this treatise will focus the spotlight on situations and provide words that describe them aptly.
First of all, to die without leaving a will is to die ‘intestate’, while to die leaving a will is to die ‘testate’. While an undertaking that requires a great deal of effort and determination is regarded as a ‘Herculean’ task, an activity which is impossible to complete is acknowledged to be a ‘Sisyphean’ task.
Keep in mind that Herculean and Sisyphean are proper adjectives, which are derived from the proper names (otherwise called proper nouns), Hercules and Sisyphus, correspondingly; hence, the portrayal of ‘H’ and ‘S’ in upper case. In other words, you should refrain from writing ‘herculean’ or ‘Sisyphean’ at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence.
Meanwhile, a situation that is impossible to explain or understand is ‘inexplicable’, just as a problem that is too difficult to solve is ‘intractable’ or ‘insurmountable’. Interestingly, a person who reveals secrets by talking too much is a ‘blabbermouth’. An event that is held once a year (not ‘once in a year’) is ‘annual’, twice a year (not ‘twice in a year’) is ‘biannual’, and once every two years is ‘biennial’.
At this juncture, it should be observed that ‘invaluable’ and ‘valuable’ are not antonyms. In truth, they are synonymous with each other, though the former (invaluable) qualifies a noun with a higher degree of importance. Other notable examples of pseudo-antonyms (words that appear as opposites, although they are actually synonyms) are habitable/inhabitable and flammable/inflammable.
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Away from that, an individual whose lifestyle is characterised by moving frequently from place to place is leading a ‘nomadic’, ‘itinerant’ or ‘peripatetic’ life. When such an individual develops a compelling desire to travel, the feeling is called ‘wanderlust’.
A person who displays an affinity for a subject, a sporting activity, et cetera, and has appreciable knowledge of the same is an ‘aficionado’ or ‘enthusiast’. On top of all that, a human who dreads germs and has an incurable obsession with cleanliness is a ‘germophobe’. With that being said, did you know that two unpleasant situations, which simultaneously constitute setbacks for somebody, are called a ‘double whammy’?
Incidentally, this is what we regard as ‘double wahala’ in our peculiar lingo, a catchphrase that was popularised by the late pioneer of Afrobeat and pan-Africanist, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. With that in mind, a being who prevents others from having fun, for instance, by not partaking in an activity or by dissuading others from doing the same, is a ‘spoilsport’ or ‘party pooper’.
Against the backdrop of the multifaceted natural and man-made catastrophes that beset the world, take note that places which are engulfed by unrest, terrorism, disasters and the like are called ‘hotspots’ or ‘flashpoints’. In that connection, a person who perpetrates illegal acts or masterminds evil activities like banditry and terrorism is a ‘malefactor’ or ‘villain’. Again, a human who is not easily upset or deterred by unpleasant circumstances is adjudged to be ‘unflappable’ or ‘imperturbable’.
With that being said, have you ever been in a lopsided romantic relationship; that is, one in which the affection you exhibited was not reciprocated by the other party? Such love is branded as ‘unrequited’. On the sidelines of the foregoing, an impossible situation whereby you are prevented from doing something until you have done another thing which you cannot do until you have executed the first thing is called a ‘catch-22’ situation.
That which cannot be removed is ‘indelible’, but that which is difficult to believe is ‘incredible’. The latter, nonetheless, should not be mistaken for ‘incredulous’, which refers to when one is unwilling or unable to believe something. Lest I forget, I have observed over time (not ‘overtime’) that many an anglophone in Nigeria often confuses ‘fatal’ accidents with ‘ghastly’ ones. For specifics, an accident can be considered as fatal only when it culminates with the death of at least one person. By comparison, a ghastly accident is horrible or unpleasant, but it does not necessarily result in death.
Let us consider a few more words before I bring the curtain down on this week’s edition of The Gift of the GAB. A person who appears appealing sometimes and portrays disgusting habits in other instances is called a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. In furtherance of that, an individual who violates an order or law, particularly as a protest, is a ‘refusenik’. Last but not least, an inconsequential development, fact, idea and so forth, that diverts people’s attention from the important ones, is designated as a ‘red herring’.
Precision and conciseness are language virtues that are overwhelmingly connected to having a robust vocabulary. Users of the English language must, therefore, endeavour to widen their word base through the conscious perusal of books, articles, editorials, dissertations and whatnot, which are enunciated in Standard English.
